2024 PBA Shark Championship 🦈 | PBA on FOX

[Music] Japan's number one bowler is the number one seed tonight at the world series of bowling sha cazo is seeking the first PBA title of his illustrious career but four of America's best will try to take him down including reigning Player of the Year EJ tacken and The Sensational Anthony Simonson beware the sharks are out tonight it's the PBA shark Championship on FS1 [Music] from Tom strobo Arena at thunderbow Lanes we welcome you in the 15th World Series of bowling a third straight night of prime time PBA on FS1 from the Cheetahs to the Scorpions to into the water with the sharks a PBA Sharp King will be crowned this evening and what a fi three major Champions DJ attacking Anthony Simons and Chris pther last night's winner in Matt Russo and sha kawazoe is the top SE let's take a look at the brackets Matt Russo he fell to EJ tacket in the round of eight but he qualified for the finals it's the highest seated round of a non winner see Anthony Simonson had drama to win 32 to get the three seed and so now it's Russo and Chris Prather to lead us off and Chris prather's familiar with the world championship stage 2022 PBA World Champ yeah he's had a lot of success in this event and he's really quietly turned his season around and it started with the doubles win with his partner back on Sunday Andrew Anderson [Music] [Applause] God 2 4 7 8 the trick here is to cover that back pin that eight pin seen a lot of players throwing it straight at this but old school is you hook you throw a hook into this so that you can cover that back pin Russo said this night was house money guy's still on a high not the way you want to start the evening though too heavy on the two pin chops chops it straight back off the four and it's an open early for Russo Chris Prather said I definitely want to finish on the left because the right has been known to to cause more issues so you couldn't ask for a better setup for the 32-year-old two time m Champion oh good break 10 go 10 goes just a two but you're right about the right lane and talking with all the players they said hey whoever figures out the right lane is probably going to win this event what's there to figure out well it's a little bit tighter down Lane and so on this pattern being at 48 ft you can't give away the pocket too much the ball won't make it up you can't go too straight you can't go too wide he got to be right in the middle of that and got to make great shots Chris Prather we had a great conversation with him earlier tonight let's take a look at his Arsenal the attention star was what he talked to us about DNA coil on the right lane attention star on the left [Applause] and there's a strike for Chris trather Randy he told us I'm a lot more confident in my abilities he felt like ler was a robot well he he had a lot of voices in his head right and and uh all with great intentions but he decided to start relying more on his instincts he said somebody would ask me a question or rather I would ask someone a question and and going to give me the answer I just robotically followed that he said now I'm trusting my instinct brusso is in some deep Waters to start and just a uh cleanup on Chris prather's equipment he's using DNA coil on both lanes not the start Russo is looking for obviously 37 n now and likelihood of going back to back open frames very high first time he's left this this tournament so backto back opens for Russo the lone Lefty tonight we' seen high scores throughout this year's World Series but the the scoring Pace slows down just a little bit when we come over to the Dome the stroble arena these Lane beds are about 2 years old and uh they're a little bit fresher then on the other side where all the qualifying is held Russo needs a response of some sort and that'll help nice messenger came and sent the [Applause] away let's take a look at tonight's oil pattern the PBA shark 48 yeah the longest of the patterns and you can see it right away how much straighter the players are going through the front part of the lane I think also we need to mention that with every pattern there's been different oil used oh good shot the 10 for pray there explain what you mean by that well there's different oils being used for each pattern which uh what what makes the oil different is the additives it used to be back in the day was viscosity but not anymore it's now it's the additives that are used in the oil that goes into these machines that oil the lanes and some of the additives make the oil a little stickier some make it Slicker so some oils are a little bit more High friction some very low friction ah come on man Chris winning on Sunday with Andrew Anderson Roth hullman PBA doubles title for the second time yes one of his Six Tour wins he said he's never felt better about just his instincts his ability to ditch a ball if it's not working he hated it but it worked out all right and maybe that's sums up where Chris prather's at with his game well he hated it because it was inside a Target but the good news is that now he knows he can miss a little bit left and the ball just laid there Randy in qualifying he shot under 200 thought he was going to miss out on being one of the 16 left into the bracket the last game yeah he drives to McDonald's he goes from the dollar menu in the Drive-Thru to getting a text from his wife saying come back you're going to be in a rolloff with Kevin mun more more of that story to come because it's there's a lot more to it yeah never has a double cheeseburger turned into more dollars he just got a soda oh our orders are different usually are you're in rare form tonight R so cleans that up come on was close winner here gets Anthony Simonson what a moment for Matt last night yeah it was great he earned every bit of it had a great match with py py faltered late with three out of four opens and Matt just you know did what he had to do he kept the ball in play made that uh 39 spare in the seventh 228 192 winner his dad Tom here again tonight Russo looks like Russo made a ball change to a theum there's his dad Tom what a nice man he said son that trophy go get it it's yours last night one good one on the L good shot there see if he can climb back into this the early adjustment all right now let's talk more about this after the shot Beauty so you talked about he goes to McDonald's he gets Tex his wife but I think the the beauty of the story is that he bowled this tournament shark with three bowling balls three he was kind of disgusted with his ball reactions and there was three balls left on the locker room one of them was a spare ball he said well these two balls haven't looked good all week I'll try these shoots 196 last game of qualifying drags his three ball roller out to the car goes McDonald's gets the call comes back in with his three ball roller same three balls makes The Telecast he likes it back to back Jacks that's how you do it you know and that shot that he didn't like on that lane that struck that that that was a that was like a picture showing him hey you can miss a little bit left on this left Lan Chris pther sure likes it here and rightfully so just underway in the shark [Music] Championship it is so great to be at Tom strovel Arena at Thunderball Lanes yeah my first PBA tour enjoy it young man that sign is awesome and he is a tacket fan says hello to his mom that's awesome I signed his bowling pin earlier did you he was so excited I was I was like wow that's awesome he even knows who I am that kid watches bowling everybody knows who you are that's not true so Matt Russo is trailing by 42 pins a tough start ball change back on that right lane now struck on the right thus far and That Remains the Same here that right lane is the Bugaboo to talked last night a little bit about some of the changes that Matt's made in his game he recently took his thumb out of the ball and he said man did my whole world change big scores here during the shark Championship qualifier Russo averaging over 240 Prather 237 and a half big scores all week long or I should say all three weeks long here at the world championship because when it's all said and done these players that make it through every cut and get to the world championship they're going to be here for 21 days amazing it's what makes this bowling grandest stage with over a million dollars in prize money on the line Matt said he really wasn't comfortable or confident in his ball selection on the show last night he just wanted to make sure he threw good enough shots on that right lane and he did more than that said he just trusted his eyes the left has been no problem for Russo yeah the problem is he has to finish the match on the right lane and he's trailing by 42 and he hasn't struck there [Music] yet which leads us to our standings in the world championship match play will be held tomorrow that can be seen on Bold TV Matt Russo at the top Saturday's coverage on fs17 cther leaves the 10 Sunday at noon on Fox nine of 16 left-handed get through it see right behind Chris pray there is there you go take another look still have EJ Bel Monte on the right but lots of left-handers heavy as pther CS up and has a 41 P Advantage last night all but one left-handed Jason Belmont are only right-hander all no thumbers you know and I started kind of a wildfire my my point that I was trying to make last night was a discussion a thread because we had all two handers and no thumb will the sport ever get to a point where the thumb becomes obsolete [Applause] cther leaves the 10 you weren't doing it in a negative way you were bringing up the point to raise some discussion at the dinner table yeah what are your thoughts I mean is there is is it ever going to get to that point I mean I don't think so no but with more and more youngsters doing it more and more players coming out on tour doing it and I mean like like we talked about last night all five first time in in history on the PBA tour you know my other question is when do you think it'll take off on the women's tour and I know there's a couple out there that are doing it we just haven't seen it yet this sport continues to evolve Jason balanti told us that last night he's like I spent hours days trying to perfect my craft now these kids they do it so easily yeah because they they can go to YouTube now and watch it Russo has yet to strike on the right hasn't been able to figure it out two hard doesn't H throws it too slow it hooks throws it too hard it doesn't hook darn it he got off to a bad start and could never catch up because he can't can't hit the right lane back to back opens to start you know what was really cool the moment that he won last night his dad Tom gave him the phone Johnny petraglia was on yeah JP the legend the Hall of Famer signed me to my first ever staff contract nothing but love for Johnny petral he talked to Parker shortly after that as well Parker B the third and yeah there was uh Parker's son I think was in tears he was yeah it's cool to see how much the greats love Matt Russo look at that big nasty There's a Great Hall of Famer Wes in the house Scorpion King is here at this shark tonight that's a strike should be a strike it is Mr Russo well problem for Matt is he's bowling on shark against the shark Chris prer and it's ironic as Chris said as you can see the Sharks on his jersey he's got that nickname but he's never won this event he won the Scorpion in 2019 he said now it's time tonight the shark needs to be king of the water she done and Chris Prather will be meeting up with Anthony Simonson right lane is already starting to look funky we haven't gotten to our first match if you're just joining us that's what the players told us for an hour and a half earlier today can you figure out this right lane is prayer just needs six pins as I almost break my ankle that wouldn't be good don't do that Chris no no okay Chris a witchat state product Chris pther the shark keeps swimming and there's your attention star he just went to on that shot all right let's go down to the floor and tour rep Tim Mack Tim what advice are you going to give Chris Prather moving forward into the second match well I I I I Randy I I really think it's a ball change on the right lane I think he's got to go to the attenson star it's a little quicker off the spot goes through pins a little bit different we switched to that ball in the 10th Frame as well I didn't want him to switch in the ninth because uh you know he if he opened I I don't want to have the match in hand but now that he's got the match in hand probably make that change on both lanes do you think he'll use that ball on the left lane as well left lane as well we switched to it already on the yeah I saw it yeah and and we're going to go to the right on the right lane as well okay thanks Tim thank you on this l or what and for Matt Russo there's a lot to be proud of this week he's not done he's got the world championship still absolutely and he'll go into match play tomorrow it's the top [Applause] seed finally a strike on the right lane oh you love it The Scorpion King baby I just need the noise he just needed the noise we have seen this this place has gotten a Portland likee Vibe with the crowd every now and then I'll tell you what this is a this is one nice kid easy to root for and his wife he posted last night she's his everything Lauren women's Bing coach at marville University in St Louis good luck to them at the ITC how about that is that not does that not sum it up only no pressure every time when it doesn't matter you guys are supposed to be loud every shot it's like a fill shot when you haven't struck yet on that lane it's guaranteed thank you [Applause] and there's the pill shot we haven't seen the last of Matt Russo this week a he won't be the shark champ the shark moves on Welcome Back to the 15th World Series of bowling PBA on FS1 from Allen Park Michigan stroble Arena Anthony Simonson he has developed a reputation to be one of the more energetic players in this sport let's go in the pocket with him I'm Anthony Simonson and I currently live in Las Vegas Nevada I've done this for now 23 years growing up I spent a lot of time just practicing and practicing the bowl alley was almost essentially my daycare there is some talent but there's also been a lot of hard work that people haven't seen you know they haven't seen the years and years and the hours of practice that have gone into this the goal is as we do this professionally is to make it look as easy as possible yeah baby aside from being a pro bowler I call myself a part time mechanic I guess give give me that I've always wanted to be the guy who I could come in I could beat you on the lane if your machine's broke I can fix it your lane machine doesn't work I can do it making some food in the snack bar giving some shoes out at the front counter bowling's what I know so I figured I'm going to just try to know everything I can in that world his Mother Teresa dropped him off at the bowling alley from as early as the age of five he was restocking rental shoes and now he's one of the big biggest names in all of bowling and he meets Chris Prather this is their seventh alltime meeting the series is tied at three Simonson with starting Lane Choice he chose to start on the right lane which means Prather will finish on the right lane on the left he open with a strike and that's the ball change that he went to last game in the 10th [Music] Frame Simonson he's going to start with DNA coil on the right lane winner up very classic earlier this season messenger hello good evening your table is ready the just right strike is brought to you by just bear the mindful choice for high quality protein with no antibiotics ever be like Anthony Simonson have your protein to start the night just right just bear the Swiss army knife of bowling he's going with that same ball on the left lane DNA coil back to back Jacks for Simo speaking of DNA he's got some pretty good bowling DNA some regard him as the most talented player out on this tour in the Rolling Stone feature on him trust it that was put out recently Chris Prather is quoted in the feature they talked to Chris about Anthony nice and in the feature don't leave me hanging Simonson's Chris is bringing up the fact that Anthony was entering tournaments at the age of 12 against the nation's best college teams including wit to state CH was a bowler at wiah during this time and Chris says to the Rolling Stone we're bowling with with other college guys and I'm bowling next to this 12-year-old who's bowling two-handed he's one of the first two-handers I saw he's striking every single shot and walking around like he owns the entire building I'm just trying to survive that's great oh boy well oh boy a triple for Trader for a second looked like it was going to go a little bit High maybe a four pin but there's a four pin going down yep yep he was he thought the same thing yeah and look different are you surprised at all a 12-year-old Simo just dominating I'm not surprised at anything Simonson does Pro he's just a presence unlike any other Tom Clark who's looking on seated next to Kathy stroble the wife of Tom tonight he says you just never know what you're going to see from this kid I mean he can just do it all and once he gets focused and he gets dialed in he's super hard to beat just 27 and already five major youngest player to achieve that feed in PBA tour history and you see how he got here it took drama Nicola pongolini a 3-2 win in the round of eight after beating Matt Sanders he went the distance in both matches likes it he likes it you see that step over to the right player likes it and in the first two games of shark Championship qualifying he had a backup fall well he threw a couple of backup balls on the left side to start and he was in 88th Place after the first round of qualifying and then said you know I'm going to just kind of do what I do and then I think the next block he averaged over 250 and that evening second round he Comm into a conventional game plan shot 1283 to rock 88 to 20th lean on it come around and it did the leaner oh man the 10's in a good mood this evening oh no oh I hope you didn't jinx it next 10 pin left is on you just saying what do I owe you no not me the players ref Focus trust the move all right let's see if he bumps this in a little bit maybe a board left with his feet last shot was a little high and that would laid that one laid there like grandpa on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner look at that yeah and you can see him shaking he's like the players aren't expecting that ball to hold its line and it is so now that tells oh he threw a shot like that in game one got it in laid there he went oh wait hang on a minute I got a little hold there [Applause] uhoh oh some fortune in Simo with a Jordan shrug look ater's reaction and you can see the wide right there Tri to 2810 out what a huge break to Steve Alexis 2810 no more I mean that is a gigant antic break through five even I won't use the word to provide any more jinx's RP I'm done doing that Simonson a good eight boards left of where prather's playing him eight boards left perfect wow what a start to game two well grab your popcorn grandpa might have to wake up on the couch cuz this is too good strikes on strikes in mtown Smokey Robinson [Music] [Applause] [Music] singing back on the right and the first time we see somebody blink gets that 10 it's on that right lane which is where prayther will finish and really that's the only pin you have to look at on that right lane can the players get that 10 pin out let's take a look at how these two players are attacking the 48t shark oil pattern Simonson much different eight boards at the lay down where the ball comes in contact with the lane about six boards at the arrows so much different shape for simonsson pray they're going much [Music] straighter that is really cool and traon perfect on the left the better the two lanes there's hold on that left lane and the ball has a much better shape much better motion going through the pins now Simonson fresh off of that trip 2810 on the right lane takes a rack he's never won a title at the world series of bowling hard to believe 14 PBA tour titles we asked him why is that he said said well qualifying less games one of the harder events to win wow so he is in that same boat on the right side in the seventh which is why he wanted prayer to finish there backto back flatties on the right lane yeah well could you ask for much better here in just our second showdown of the night that says it all but as you always say one shot can change at all I think it's a big Advantage for Simonson finishing on this left lane he did not make the world championship cut so this is his one chance this week the champ back to the left uses that [Applause] Advantage just watch the 10 pin on this shot for Prather come on now just switched balls on that right lane DNA coil [Applause] now well the 10 went but the four did not a little more responsive bowling ball down Lane and and that looked like a really good shot he just didn't make a big enough move with his feet to the left d but he rolled it beautifully and it just responded a little more than he thought it would it's that right [Applause] lane Sunday on Fox the stars of NASCAR head to Talladega for the biggest Thrill Ride of the year the pre-show kicks off at 2 Eastern then the green flag flies at 3:30 Eastern Sunday on Fox [Applause] Chris pther ask for a rer he he talked about actually a second one yes sir your thoughts hey let's go down to the floor with tourre Rob gotel Rob what do you see happening out there and why the two RS for Chris Prader I think he's just collecting himself a little bit you know he he he was pretty committed to the ball change on the right lane coming out of commercial break uh he decided to stick with the other ball and just kind of roll it more than a 10 bin and and so then he he he switched in the eighth went a little high in four pin so I think he's just collecting his thoughts now what Rob yeah I mean that one just came off it he threw a good shot came off it went went high and stone to nine I mean we saw belmo do it twice on that same Lane last night uh and you know it is what it is and now he's going to hope for a Little Help from Simo all right Rob thank you I don't think he's going to get a whole lot of help from Simo but you never know I thought the last two shots were pretty good for Prather both nine spares asking this guy for some help yeah that's tough it's like asking you to borrow five bucks jeez wow he shaping is so nice he is in mode and is in the driver's seat can on my second re as he ask for a second rer what a beautiful shot here by Simo and now he just needs any Mark in the 10th Frame and the winner of this well you have to meet one EJ tacken heard of him Simo met him earlier this year in Springfield Pete Weber classic and beat him and route to his only win this season ooh hold on hold on what just happened looked like he got slow right through the face 3 4 6 71 you got to get the ball over here to the right side of the three pin cut it into the four and the Seven it is makeable no and so the door cracks open wide open Prather needs to double on this right lane a double and three and he moves on he has not struck his last two times on the right he struck his first two believe in yourself come on now last time four pin with this ball change let's see what kind of move he makes here my goodness AED he he loved that shot it went High Anthony Simonson will meet EJ tacket in a heavyweight [Applause] Showdown wow Cay their had an opportunity s wins let's find out from Rob gotel tour rep what happened on that shot because it looked like Chris liked it yeah I think it was a good shot uh just a little little in and little slow and it caught it it went high he was trying to make make sure it went through the pins all right thanks Rob Simon Simonson's moving on and this is really classy Chris prather's going into the crowd he's giv fans some of his bowling balls let's flash back to 359 nights ofo April 23rd 2023 wosa Wisconsin EJ T needed two strikes to win the 10 he got both Hep Jason Balman his fourth career Major title the world champion and is fifth on the PBA tour and rout for Chris Shankle player of the year's season and now he meets Anthony Simonson just another challenge for tacket 0 for four on TV against Simo with the right to meet Shota kaoi for the title and now Kimberly is with the rning player of the year EJ this is the sixth TV final that you've made this season you're on Pace to beat the single season average you know your third in points but everybody keeps talking about the fact that you haven't won yet this season and I think so far it's been a great season for you but what is your take on your season I mean it has been a great season i' I've bowed a lot of really good games to put myself on TV that many times um just need to bowl a little bit better here and uh hopefully I can do that today and uh got a very tough opponent Anthony Simonson so I know I'm going to need lots of strikes now let talk about that because there were a ton of strikes in that last match you got some strikes in you I sure hope so are these my striking shoes I I sure hope so actually so we're we're about to find out here very soon good luck to you thank you so for EJ tacket speaking of that season this is his sixth Championship round appearance in 11 events this [Music] season good to see the sport sportsmanship there and as we have seen throughout the evening Randy Peterson Simonson will begin on the left as the higher number seed and he'll finish on the tricky right wow that was from way in Big Move for Simonson on the left lane remember last game what he did that big split right that was a good four to five boards left of his last shot the last game so big mov to the left trying to find more oil to get the ball to lay off fair for Simonson and now tack it yes he has a chance to break Jason balan's 2019 PBA record average of 229.3 n including his 71 games in the world series of bowling he is averaging [Music] 230.6 two well that first shot he was in and he is just hanging on this shot at the bottom of the swing that open hand release bent elbow CED wrist and then it all becomes one straight line to create those revolutions the Open Hand reminiscent of Pete Weber the great PDW EJ starting off with pride Dynasty as you take a look at his his Arsenal he didn't start this world series wait for my ball to come back right he's just waiting for his ball to come back who's dealing with his spine angle right and we'll get to that right after this shot explain to you what that means and what he is trying to accomplish with his setup [Applause] there's a strike there's the friendly left leg so what he has to avoid his getting tilted too early because his his push wi gets quick it gets the ball gets into the swing early then he gets steep his feet try to catch up and typically what happens is his elbow will fly and he'll miss it at the bottom and those are some of those shots that we've seen before where he'll actually go light maybe the Super Wash outs missing the the head pin and that's the one shot he needs to avoid now Simo on the right messenger no yeah and right now the players they know exactly what the pair is giving them and it's just like hey let's just try to get through the right lane maybe catch a couple of strikes but we got to perform in that left lane so we can double up so we told you about that Pete Weber Missouri classic Anthony Simonson's lone win this season February 18th he was the five seed became the first person since Jason bonti last year at the Tournament of Champions to climb the step ladder to the title he beat Aj Johnson Matt Russo then EJ tacket in a great matchup to reach the championship match defeated Bill O'Neal that Embrace is an Embrace of greatness 14th career PBA tour time wow pretty deep right now you can see the ball Crossing at the 28th board going out to 11 so he's in he's in there take a look just to the right of six Thea that's some deep sea fishing yes sir that's nose bed territory if you don't have a revite there you go EJ on the right side I thought he made an interesting point when we interview interviewed him earlier this afternoon he said you know I'm a momentum guy and he says I haven't Bolden 4 days yeah and he said that that's part of the not rationale but part of the reasoning when people are like wait you're making these shows the expectation is to win and and of course it is because he's EJ tacket but he said it's like a pitcher when when you have him thrown for a while and then you're being asked to come out of the bullpen four or five days later and put it in one game that's not easy but he makes it look that way [Music] I think if you if you ask some of the players out here just how tough it is to win on this tour I think they they'd all have the same response but this is a beauty EJ's just saying all right come on just get the 10 out and we're good that's it six cuts the 10 out between these two players 35 titles nine Majors this man's only 27 good shot there Beauty one more on the left lane and he'll take the lead by one hard to believe that EJ has never beaten Simonson on television that's really hard to Fathom look at that look how low he gets to the foul line upper body parallel to the floor just a little softer speed for Simo on that right lane so deep 10 six around the 10 that time when he faced EJ in Missouri it was a 203 to 193 game and EJ said it to us it wasn't like he felt like he bowled poorly it's just Anthony struck out yep late EJ becoming a dad this year his son trip Eddie the third bornn in December beautiful wife Natalie right there the right side of your screen that was terrific from tacket on the right side there's Natalie new mom EJ tacket is just knocking the snot out of those finger holes right now he is just Rev it up see how he got here beating that Ogle in that Russo Russo was the highest seed left though of the non- winners that's how he got to tonight EJ tacket's feeling it he's feeling it Randall yes he is he's in full Predator mode it's Shark Night in Detroit who's going to move on to the final two greats dueling that is really awesome it's such a cool thing that the PBA does we welcome you back Thunderball Lane stroble Arena Anthony Simonson faces a deficit of 32 entering the [Music] sixth that's a response from Simo on the right all right let's go down to the floor now and talk with t Rob gotel again Rob the only thing Simonson has left other than that split in the last game are 10 pins in order to get back into this match he's got to get that corner out what does he have to do yeah he's just trying to control his ball speed nothing different he's making good shots his specto data is really really good uh so he's just trying to make sure he controls the ball speed to get it to read a little bit quicker and I just go through the pins a little better all right thanks R yep you know these players can all hit the pocket but the great ones figure out a way to get their ball to go through the pocket correctly so they strike when they do hit the pocket and these are two great players it's been deep on that left side throughout the night and has not been able to maintain the Rhythm there with the 10 up 41 pins through seven frames for Simonson and interestingly enough three of them have come on the left hey Randy yeah where do you get all those great numbers from from our good friends over at Lane talk for more information please visit Lan talk.com and feel free to download the free app it'll help you be a better bowler I'm not really cheap am I no you're not that was I was kidding [Applause] the check catches for tacken all right let's we talked about his spine angle and what EJ tries to do and he said you know I felt like I was getting tipped early so I got to keep my shoulders back a little bit longer and here you see it what it does is it increases the flat spot at the bottom of the swing that was beautiful he is just knocking the tar out of those finger holes bro I mean he's getting after it you could sense talking with him earlier that he's ready to to silence some people here tonight because of all the takes of some of the lack of success on the shows yeah look you keep knocking on the door eventually it's going to open youj it's so good I mean just to make six shows in a season I don't care look you still have to have so many things go your way on The Telecast getting there I mean getting there six times that's why he's great that's why he's the reigning player of the year he just needs to get have a couple things go his way and he's going to win multiple times this season I'm not even worried now Simonson on the right side you make such a great point because EJ said there are things he felt like on multiple shows this year he bowled well he bow well but you're going up against the best in the on the planet take a look at the difference in Simonson's last two games and how he's playing the left lane that's just one game wow but he made a big move in match number three and you can see it right there there's a good five boards at the launch and four boards at the arrows big jump five boards and it maybe the reason why he's leaving so many corners maybe he's too steep now [Applause] over did it no that time he got it out I mean look he actually got it a little bit farther right of Target and shaped it a little bit more it almost looks like he moved right with his I mean we knew yeah I would have bet a th his position at the arrows was definitely right and he didn't like it yet that one shaped perfectly and got the 10 out so it's what you just said on on a TV show sometimes you have to have certain go your way you got to have some luck you got to have some good fortune go your way I mean it's all there is to it tacket fever in Allen Park tonight he's going to bow for the title my goodness EJ tack [Applause] it he's so good best player with his thumb in it that's for sure Randy you are a Hall of Famer he' been doing this 25 years EJ taka versus Shota kaoi how's that sound for a final my friend I mean it just it just s nice 479 it just sounds like the potential for more history at the world series of bowling and you know um what it would mean to sha and his country Cena keep it Japanese player win a PBA tour title EJ tacket has been on the prow for his first win of the season for the first time ever he beats Anthony Simonson on TV first time ever and for Simonson well just a couple of minor misuse and so show kaaz zoei who you just saw on your screen the man from Japan trying to make history tonight is going to meet the reigning Player of the Year fun to see tacket and Simonson go up against each other I mean it's always going to be a great show and a great broadcast when you have those two on how could it not two of the best in the world you ready for this final I really am I I'm really excited to see what sha brings the PBA on FS1 is sponsored by go bowling for friends and family fun log on to gobowling.com to find a center near you that's what's at stake the PBA shark Championship EJ tacket versus sha kawaz zoi they have met once before 2017 PBA Japan in ational EJ won it and Randy take it away Timmy Mack what type of strategy did you come up with for sha to try to win for the first time ever on the PBA tour youj listen the smart thing is if you watch EJ's match he has a little shallower angles than Anthony and his ball carried a little bit better that's what sha loves to do so we're going to keep our angles shallow and we're we're going to hit the pocket and Godzilla's going to strike thanks Timmy that was great that was awesome Tim Mack is every time we talk with him I learn something fun or do he's awesome one of my best friends EJ tacket 21 time PBA tour Champion sha kaazi 21 time Japan PBA tour Champion here we go you know EJ's a great friend and and so is sha it's kind of hard to root against anyone in this match from my seat but I'll tell you what this is the biggest moment in sha kao's career the one thing in his favor I I will say that he loves the long patterns and this is the longest here at the world series of bowling 9:30 a.m. local time in Osaka Japan to Us's family friends whole area watching and hoping well a little bit of Fortune that's the nerves y yeah one of five players in this event without a game under 200 excuse me the only one of the five fin that never had a game under 200 as we take a look at his Arsenal going with lightning blackout we asked him what is it about this pattern that you like he said I like longer patterns suits my game well no didn't give oh he gets the massive break on the right legane tripping out the Brooklyn strike and then this time he throws a nice shot and leaves that Shaker seven like I said in the on camera he's going to have to bow a perfect game and I don't mean by score I don't mean 300 but he has to he has to be Flawless and he got away with one in the first frame and and converts the seven pin that would have been a nice start a good break strikes there starts with a double EJ tacket is locked and loaded Randy we've seen him have a good year he has yet to win on tour this season after the five titles including the two majors a world championship last year that epic showdown with his execution tonight has been close to flawless [Applause] boom when you see a player do this at the foul line you know that they've aced the shot watch this that's called posting it up that like tiger with the iron and then you know and then the twirl yes yeah strike percentage for the week excuse me for this event cazo second tack at sixth triple for EJ hey you want to take a look at his finish one more time yes sir yeah this isn't an instant replay of the shot on the right lane this is on the left lane wow that's identical yeah and oh boy so the pressure gets applied well back to- back bad shots on the right lane it's almost like he's afraid to get it to the right Brooklyn and now this one through the nose why the fear of getting it to the right there's apprehension because of that right lane it being a little bit tighter down Lane EJ's getting through it because he's just knocking the guts out of it right I mean he's just slow rubbing it and so he's getting it to shape perfectly Sha's rev rate's not near as high so he's probably trying to be a little bit a little bit more careful on that right lane but he better get his legs underneath him real quick EJ off to a perfect start showed us playing this left lane five boards left with his feet and three with his Target that's how much different the right and left lane are [Applause] Kao you know his friends back home what they say about that shot right there what would they say that name leg I mean it's great little bit little bit left you met him squishy squishy when he was how old 14 squishy but here the leg okay okay okay scosi that means a little [Music] bit he wants him to move or get that ball a little bit a little bit farther to the right on the right [Applause] lane 10 wow hard to believe that was a flat 10 as hard as he hit on that you know you're teaching us so much tonight and here's another fun fact about Randy Peterson you've been to Japan how many times a couple over 50 yeah yeah I've been very fortunate to visit that that great country and uh did a lot of bowling a lot of teaching right now tack it is giving a little less of his own being match play tomorrow you can watch that on B TV we'll have coverage for you Saturday fs17 eastern time Sunday at noon on Fox back it with a fist pump he's perfect on the left three for [Music] three got that one in a little bit in the delayed there always a good sign hey if I know I have some tug area left of my target I know I'm going to have a pretty good chance of bowling well he knows right now he's in that zone that 21 time Champion Zone the right has given him a big dilemma this time he strikes wow that was Zoe response that was big yeah almost a solid nine but he really needed this to kind of keep his hopes alive and I know it's just halfway through this title match but maybe this jump starts him and gets him going because one more strike and he can cut the deficit to one he was with EJ Tack and Anthony Simonson on that Motown muscle team in 2018 tooi come on come on 36 he was wishing it to go interesting because the last shot that EJ threw on that lane it held and I think it's just too straight up the lane for Sha to finish the story you met him when he was 14 how so uh I was doing an exhibition in a clinic and he was he was there in high school and gave him a lesson right yeah just just the ball the angle eyes eyes eyes okay left legane I move right okay okay wants his eyes to be farther right on that left lane but to finish the story yeah we that's where I first met shoda and that was in [Applause] Nagasaki the 10 yeah another flat 10 on the right lane for EJ and both shots are really nice too EJ will finish on this right lane that struck off three times on the left but that was the question coming into tonight every player brought it up what's going to happen on the right correct and and every higher seed coming on has all chosen to finish on the left lane shto your number one seed same thing here come on tacket's sixth TV show out of a possible 11 appearances but he has not been able to win this season that's why tonight means a lot for him and his momentum and the messenger with a call in mtown that was answered EJ smack it on the left [Applause] lane there's that beautiful rotation and ball Roll by the reigning Player of the Year and here comes a flying Messenger right in the face of the 10 this is huge left it was big left he's just had that fear yeah and Timmy is trying to get him to move his eyes farther right migy migy hiat left migy right get your eyes farther right it's one thing to say it one game match I think you touched on it maybe last night tournament leader in 2024 or was it 2023 where the record was so bad for the tournament leader yep two and five to start this year for the one SE there you go two and five yeah they 10 and four last year for the one yeah 10 and four last year there's his wife Tony Tonyo out out sh's taking a timeout wants to talk to 10 27 at the arrows to 11 at the break point okay yep 27 11 both lanes okay don't go so far right on left the right lane okay 271 use your legs ball will go there okay saw his wife he called his wife is his Rock suo Let's go down Tim ma real quick Timmy it looks like his angles aren't steep enough like he's afraid to get it to the right we're going to make sure we stay back to the right and get it up the lane so we're hoping 27 10 11 if it does that it'll strike that's the goal only one more shot on that right lane for kaaz kawaz with a strike here in this the eighth this is where he will finish get dialed in good shot good shot so that's what I told him try to get back to the right I thought he we moved too far on the right lane and got in front of the ball return we don't want to be getting there so we want to make sure his ball gets back to the right gets him that 11 12 Zone if he does that thrs a couple strikes here see if we can force put some pressure on EJ all right Timmy thanks great stuff Randall with Timmy Mack thanks buddy all right we're tack it will finish oh my god really oh my God flat 10 flat 10 and now this paralyzer five yeah I mean how could you not do anything but laugh at that if I had a dollar for every five pin EJ attack it left on television hitting the pocket I'd have like four bucks thank you well thought that was all right come on dude one good one here one good one come on now he talked to good shot it's season Arc said I build momentum the more I'm playing the better I'm doing it's quite simple and that was automatic from tack it Beauty absolutely gorgeous that out there there's Natalie now showed a must strike situation for him as you take a look at the max scores right here folks 239 tacket 234 kawazoe but to have any chance he has to strike out in my opinion and I know that tacket struggled a little bit on the right lane but he's still hitting the pocket on that lane and that last shot the five pin was just a freak got to get it right again he just can't get it over there he's just locked up just locked up he's never able to figure it out couldn't get his mind to tell his body to get it going to the right on that lane and he knows it remember T gets release with when you said these replays are identical that's been him on the right lane sha every time that same facial expression well he's going to take a r on the left L regroup but you know his mind is telling his body look you can't throw it too far to the right on the right lane it's not going to come back and what does that do it makes him pull every shot he's got one pocket strike on the right lane y his other was a Brooklyn the first frame strikes out he shoots 214 tacket and 219 with spare strike in the 10 [Music] needs it needs it got it come on one more one more one more same shot same shot come on strike out keep tack it honest it's Fourth TV appearance in America one time soda one time show up dring it drilling it A call came from Japan mama all 10 all 10 good job all 10 we'll use the international plan tonight my goodness oh that was a great time for that to happen still gives him a chance right lane just crushed him he just never allowed himself to make good enough shots on the right lane but it's not over nope and she's not warming up yet EJ taka will still need a mark in the 10th Frame Kao good and fora 213 and as she said EJ tack it will need a Mark here in the 10th no it's not over [Applause] that was a hard fought 213 spare and five pins he has not won this year he told Kimberly he views it as a really strong season but he knows that the Judgment for him in this sport is that Hardware is this EJ's moment T it is a winner for the first time in 24 yes and let's go down to the floor real quick and talk with EJ tacket tour rep Brett Spangler Brett why so dominant why so perfect tonight for EJ T you know what uh EJ before the show started said I feel like I've just got control the lane I've been trying to shoot monster scores all year instead of just doing what I do control the lane and make good shots that's what he committed to tonight and it turns out he's just a heck of a shot maker he threw a lot of good shots and looked amazing tonight and thanks Brett congrats to both of [Applause] youj champion this one's for trip good job EJ jaet is now a champion in 2024 yeah yes motive motive baby everybody Here's the Clincher tack it never missed the pocket the entire evening the satisfying moment of the match is sponsored by Snickers nothing satisfies like a Snickers and with the PBA commissioner Tom Clark standing EJ tacket is a champ for the first time this season Kimberly's with him EJ you were having a hard time finding strikes on that right lane but you came through when you needed to walk us through that 10th Frame well I threw a lot of really good shots and uh that that motive Pride Dynasty did really good tonight uh honestly it's a ball I didn't throw at all in the other bay came over here tonight looked really good made a good choice and and threw it lot of really good shots got a couple good breaks and um was able to get up there and throw it when I need it and that's always you know the greatest feeling in the world and um Natalie's here tonight trip isn't it's the first show that trip hasn't come to but it's so cool is this win for him yeah I can't wait to uh see my little baby boy yeah well let's talk about the fact that you finally got this win in 2024 feel like you got a monkey off your back now I mean kind of yeah even though you know the success that I've had in my career when you go on little droughts it sucks um I talked to Parker actually in uh Delaware and he was telling me one stretch in his career he went about 13 or 14 telecast without winning so that made me feel a lot better about myself um so thank you Parker for that uh great advice and uh you know stick to the process and just keep doing what you're doing well the World Series is not over for you because you still have a chance at the world championship and tomorrow you got round robin match play so how do you you're going to celebrate tonight but how do you refocus to get back into it go to bed I got a long day tomorrow we got 16 games to bowl um you know I I'm in fourth place right now got a lot to do got a lot of work to do try to climb the leader board as much as possible and uh you know get get on that show on Sunday and that's uh it's going to be important and maybe I can uh be hoisting another trophy then well congratulations on this win go enjoy this moment and your wife Natalie the tacket celebrate [Applause]

Channel: FOX Sports

Views: 151,172

Keywords: fox, fox sports, fs1, fox sports 1, sports, news, sports fox, fox sports highlights, highlights, sports podcast, podcast, fs1 podcast

Id: dxfWOzaHw-4

Length: 80min 35sec (4835 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 18 2024